Female genital mutilation: a literature review.

Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, UK. terrylm@lsbu.ac.uk

ABSTRACT

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice involving the removal or alteration of parts of the female genitalia for non-therapeutic reasons. It may be carried out on cultural grounds, and is associated with immediate and long-term physical and psychological problems. This literature review explores the prevalence of and attitudes to FGM, personal experiences of women who have undergone the procedure and effective nursing care of this patient group.